Regarding the high level of stray light on your outdoor screen: Can you work with your security and lighting people to put shields on the lights, so they don't shine directly on the screen? Many times, a simple baffle lets the light shine only where it's needed, and not on the screen.

The same applies to EXIT signs in an indoor theatre. Safety regulations often mandate the location and brightness of the signs, but a simple shield would keep the light off the screen without compromising safety. Unfortunately, I've seen too many theatres where the edge of the screen is bathed in light from the EXIT signs.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Some of the newer EXIT signs that actually form the letters with strings of LEDs are fairly directional, shining most of their light directly forward, rather than in all directions. Some new directional fiber optic technology is also coming onto the market.

Also, the technology used to make directional traffic signal lights might be applicable. Not sure, but either a fresnel lens or a fiber optic faceplate is used. I'm sure you've seen the traffic lights that are only visible from one lane, to avoid confusing drivers in the other lanes.

What about just masking the edges of the screen so it doesn't reach right out to the side wall? Then you could use a black baffle to shield the screen from the sign, without casting a shadow on the image.

Of course for stairs, the tiny LED path lights usually satisfy the inspectors for outlining the tripping hazard, yet don't throw much light into the auditorium or on the screen. Use the minimum brightness that still maintains safety.

Here are a few links:
http://www.amt4led.com/
http://www.micalighting.com/
http://www.multimediaLED.com/
http://www.schult.com/main.html
http://www.sunnywell.com/
http://www.techni-lite.com/

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

There are little tubes of green stuff inside them that spell out the word "EXIT". They don't use any electricity or batteries. You don't have to test them and they are supposed to last for 100 years or something like that. (Actually whatever the half life of tritium is, I guess. )

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Aaron

Just to let you guys know...I already have the lowest watt bulbs I can find in the exit signs and use the LED track lights on the stair ways. I was there watching a movie tonight (on my day off) in the theater with the lighted stair problem....I DROVE ME CRAZY!! I need to find a solution for that one.

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Kodak and film labs use LED path lighting in many of their darkroom areas --- paths and tripping hazards are easily outlined, with minimal light to fog the unexposed film. And most commercial aircraft now use LED path lighting to guide people to exits in the event of an emergency.

Does anyone know if the codes allow maintaining EXIT signs and path lighting in theatres at a very low level during the show, and automatically raising it to a bright level during a fire alarm? EXIT signs must be bright enough to be easily seen, even through smoke.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Can't one of the F-18's based at Tindal use the security lights for night-time target practise?

Just be glad your outdoor is not at Amberly, then you would have something to complain about with all those F-111 dump and burns causing the screen to glow red!

Only way to run a movie is with all house lights off. We have even dimmed our aisle lights in some theatres as the light fell on the screen. On my trips to NYC at no time has any theatre I've visited completly extinguished the house lights.

Even in non-palace silent-era theaters (not nickelodeons), there was often a light circuit of bulbs left on at all times in sconces, chandeliers, or coves.

I think when houses were that large (small non-palace theaters were larger than most multiplex auditoriums today) it was not so distracting to leave wall sconces 'way over there at half, or rows of those old-fashioned hooded aisle lights with 10 watt incandescents shining straight down. I like the looks of the old incandescent aisle lights, but they sure would be unneccesarily bright & distracting in tighter modern theater designs. But that's about what the light level was in theaters of typical size during the roadshow heyday, in the 50s, 60s, & early 70s.

I feel that it helps define the perimeter of the room and helps keep people from bumping into the walls, if you know what I mean. Especially in those theatres where the Soundfold is a dark color.